Mail-box.



E.- D'fH'ALE.'

MAIL Box. APPLICATION FILED JAH. 171 1910.

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Patented Jan. 17,1911.

ERASTUS D. HALE, OF BELLEVUE, OHIO.

MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 17, 1911.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ERAsTUs D. HALE, citizen of the United States,residing at Bellevue, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvement-s in boxes or receptacles for mailof the type adapted to be erected at the roadside and commonly termedrural mail boxes. In devices of this kind it is desirable to provide areceptacle that will hold package, newspaper and letter mail and protectsame from rain and snow and from interference or removal by unauthorizedand mischievous persons. It is also important to provide for easy accessto the box by the mail carrier as he sits in his wagon and leans out tocollect and leave the mail. It becomes important too to so construct thebox and its appurtenances that it will be strong, durable andinexpensive. All of these conditions I have observed in the mail boxappliance which forms the subject matter of this application besidesobtaining other advantages and utilities which will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon the examination of the accompanying drawing inthe light of the following detailed description.

In the drawing the following figures appear :-Figure 1 is a frontelevational vi-ew of my improved mail box connected with a supportingpost, and with portions broken away to more clearly disclose theconstruction and operation of the device; Fig. 2 is an end elevation ofthe device with the signal removed; Fig. 3 is an elevation showing thesignal in position, and portions of the device removed, and Fig. 4: is afragmentary detail of portions of the locking levers.

Referring to the details of the drawing, 5 represents a post whichsupports my improved mail box in connection with the braces 5a.

6 represents a semi-cylindrical sheet metal hood which is rigidlysecured to the top of the post and projects from the front side thereof.

7 and S are the two rails which form a direct support and slideway forthe mailreceptacle 10. These rails have their ends cut and bentoutwardly and downwardly as at 7a, to form a wide flaring entrance tothe slideway to facilitate the insertion of the box therein. These trackmembers are spaced apart and joined at intervals by metal straps 9riveted thereto.

Secured to the member S at points on opposite sides of the post, aredownwardly extending brackets 11, near the outer ends of which arepivoted at 1Qb and 13b flat metal bars, the locking levers 12 and 13respectively. A longitudinal slot 12a is cut in the lower portion of thelever 12 and in an onoset portion below the slotl is a hole 12C (seeFig. 4). The lever 13 is provided with a hole 13a in its lower end toregister with the hole 12C and with a rivet 13c which loosely lits theslot 12a. The upper ends of the levers are twisted and bent downwardlyand outwardly as at 14C to furnish stops to limit the endwise movementof the box 10. The hasp of a padlock 15 may be inserted through theopenings 12, 13, and when locked, will prevent the movement of thelevers and thus serve to lock the box against removal from beneath thehood 6.

The free edges of the hood and track member 7 are spaced apartsuliiciently to permit the operator to grasp the box handle 10@L andslide the box endwise, but are close enough to prevent the rotation ofthe box, when in position, and thus makes diflicult obtaining access tothe box either by removing the cover 10b or otherwise, the space betweenthe hood and box being very slight nd the ends of the hood overhangingthe As a signal, l attach to the post 5 at a point in the rear of thecenter of the box, preferably, a rod 16 which is partially rotatable inclips 17. The upper portion of this rod is bent over as at 16EL to forma clip to engage a sheet metal signal plate 16b which may be colored ifdesired to increase its visibility. The lower end of this rod is bent onan outward curve and is frictionally engaged by the free end of a spring18 with sufficient pressure to maintain the rod in position. Rigidlysecured to the rod 16 is a lug 17, which projects in a directionparallel to the plane of the signal 16h, and when the box is outside thehood and the plate in the position shown in Fig. 3 the said lug willproject into the path of the box and if the latter is now slid beneaththe hood it will engage the lug and carry the signal to the positionshown in Fig. 1. W'hen the box is empty it is allowed to 'remain outsidethe hood and the signal turned in the direction shown in Fig. 2 toindicate that foot.

It Will be noted that as both ends of the slideway are flaring the boxcan be inserted at either end, and when in place and the padlock 15locked in the levers, the box cannot be pushed in either direction. Itwill also be observed that all possibility of rain or snow entering thebox is precluded by the sliding cover l()b and the overhanging hood 6.As the track or slidevvay 7 8 extends a considerable distance beyond theends of the box, the latter can be slid out sul'liciently to permitaccess to it Without removing the box thus facilitating the introductionand removal of the mail.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is Y l. A mail receivingappliance comprising a box, a track adapted to slidably support saidbox7 levers having their ends projecting into the slideway of said trackand adapted to limit the longitudinal movement of the box and means forlocking said levers.

2. A mail receiving appliance comprising a box, spaced members arrangedto support said box and form a slideway therefor, levers having portionsprojecting into said slidevvay and adapted to limit the longitudinalmovement of the box, a hood arranged to extend over said box When thelatter is in position and adapted in coperation with a track member toprevent the rotation of said box, and means for locking said levers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of tWoWitnesses.

ERAsTUs D. HALE.

Vitnesses:

J. B. MILLER, J. L. PAINTER.

